Sheath for umbrella



United States Patent Int. Cl A45b 25/18 [50] Field oiSearch l35/33C; 150/52 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,031,361 7/1912 Mitchell 150/52 2,105,172 1/1938 Voelker 135/ Primary Examiner- Donald F. Norton Attorney- Alan Swabey ABSTRACT: A carrying sheath for collapsible umbrellas having a flattened cross section. One end of the sheath defines an opening for permitting insertion of the umbrella into the sheath. The one end resiliently grips the umbrella when in the sheath.

Patented Aug. 25 1970 Sheet A TTORNEY Sheet INVENTOR Heinz SEITEL A TTORNEY SHEATH FOR UMBRELLA BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention The present invention relates to a carrying sheath for an umbrella and particularly to a collapsible umbrella which in the collapsed condition, has a flattened cross section.

2. Description of Prior Art According to kiiown designs of umbrella carrying sheaths, a cushioning effect and elastic collapsibility is provided by a construction involving three adhering layers of either textile materials and/or plastics, wherein the middle layer is a cushioning material e.g. foam. Corresponding carrying cases for round umbrellas are provided with a zipper closure which extends over the entire length of the sheath. The drawback of this arrangement involves the danger of the umbrella covering material becoming entangled in the zipper whereby damage to, or destruction of the covering material may be the result.

In order to avoid the foregoing disadvantages of zipper closures, so called umbrella sheaths without zipper closures have become known. These are made mostly from thermo-plastic materials, and to facilitate the insertion of the umbrella and to achieve a neat appearance, these are provided at their open ends with cuff-like projections which may be separated from each other by axial slits. To avoid the ripping of these slits, a reinforcing band is usually being provided in the vicinity of the cuff-like projections. While this design may be appropriately adapted to the shape of the umbrella, it fails to provide adequate means whereby the inserted umbrella may be substantially retained within the sheath, particularly when the umbrella is being carried by its carrying strap.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an appropriate umbrella carrying sheath and to adapt it to the particular shape of the umbrella in a simple manner which ensures advantageous handling characteristics, particularly when the umbrella is being inserted or removed from the-carrying sheath, and at the same time to ensure that whenever the umbrella is carried by its carrying strap, the handle will not be pulled out from the carrying sheath accidently.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Generally, a construction in accordance with the invention comprises an umbrella sheath having a sleeve portion, the sleeve portion including parallel face walls, and narrow side walls, and a narrow closed end forming a flattened pocket, a pair of flaps extending one from each face wall at the open end of the sleeve and resilient spring means associated with the flaps and urging the flaps towards each other.

More specifically, the construction of the face walls is preferably of a semi-rigid material and the flaps are hinged to the ends of the face walls so that they can be forced open against the action of the resilient spring means, when it is re u e to .in t-a z a m r the. flame s adapted to engage snugly the handle of the umbrella when the umbrella is inserted in the sheath.

An advantage of the present sheath is that when the umbrella is collapsed and is ready to be stowed, the tips of the dome ribs are not always properly located over the lateral extensions of the handles. However, because of the construction of the sheath in the present invention, particularly when the face walls are of a semi-rigid material, the insertion of the umbrella into the sheath causes the ribs on either side of the stick to become aligned with the respective lateral extensions of the handle. Of course, when the umbrella is in the sheath, the umbrella can be carried by its handle since the flaps of the sheath resiliently engage each side of the umbrella, particularly at the handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The object of the present invention will be made clear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the annexed drawings in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown by way of examples, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of one embodiment, showing the flaps in an expanded openposition;

2 a fragmentary perspective view, illustrating a stowed umbrella in dotted lines and the flaps in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation view of the detail shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, illustrating a second embodiment thereof;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a third embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The sheath includes two wide longitudinal face walls 1 and 2. These, together with bottom 3 and narrow longitudinal side walls 4 and 5 combine to form a sleeve. The construction of the wide longitudinal walls is at least semi-stiff, however, it may be fully rigid.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, hinged flaps lb and 2b are located along the edges la and 2a of face walls I and 2. Section A indicated in the drawings shows the length of the flap portions of the sheath. Narrow longitudinal walls 4 and 5 are provided between the edges of the flaps lb and 2b and include gussetted inward folds 7, such as shown in FIG. 3.

In this particular embodiment, a stabilizing plate 8 is provided within the confines of the fold 7', while a spring clip 9 is provided around the fold 7 as shown in FIG. 3. Of course, the spring clip 9 could be embedded in the material forming the fold 7;

The flaps lb and 2b and the walls 4 and 5 define a variable size opening6.

The flaps near the openings 6 can be provided with friction ribs 19 as shown inthe drawings. Of course, the handle 10 can be provided with a carrying strap 18. as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6.

Handle 10 of the umbrella (shown in dotted lines) is fitted onto stick l1 and providedwi th alateral extension 12, to accommodate the ends of the dome ribs 13.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4 show rounded longitudinal edges for the carrying case. On the other hand, the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 has sharp corners. At least section A of the covering sheath is reinforced by double walls.

The reinforcing wall 14 is a separate ply which is Y-shaped and the two legs 14 and 14" overlie the walls 4 and 5. The natural were fif s f-s ea l e n er n w l is to retain the position shown inFIG. 6, that is, with the legs 14 and'14 adjacent each other. The material of the reinforcing wall can be of rubber or other resilient material, such that when the opening6 is enlarged by separating the flaps lb and 2b away from each other, the legs 14' and 14" will separate resiliently.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, fold 7 is formed by an insert 7' which may consist, for example, of a rubberized material or such like, being in the shape of a gusset and located between longitudinal side wall zones 15 and 16. In the absence of a forcing apart action in the region of insertion opening 6, the gusset-shaped rubber or similar material 17 will contract.

In operation, if it is required to insert the umbrella in the sheath of the three embodiments described, the flaps lb and 2b are forced apart against the resilience of either the spring clip 9 in FIG. 3, the reinforcing wall legs 14 and 14" in FIG. 5, of the expandable resilient material 17 in FIG. 7. By separating the flaps 1b and 2b, the opening 6 is enlarged so as to receive the umbrella 10 to be stowed. As the umbrella is inserted into the sheath,- the stiff material of the face walls 1 and 2, as well as flaps lb and 2b will cause the dome ribs to align on either side of the stick 11 such that they are in a suitable position under the lateral extensions of the handle 12. Once the flaps 1b and 2b are released, and the umbrella is in its stowed position in the sheath; the flaps will resiliently engage the handle 12, particularly in the region of the friction ribs 19. The umbrella can then be carried by the handle strap 18 without fear that the sheath will slip off the umbrella since the sheath resiliently engages the umbrella.

lclaim: I

1. An umbrella sheath comprising a sleeve portion, the sleeve portion including parallel face walls and narrow side walls and a narrow closed end wall forming a flattened pocket, a pair of flaps extending one from each face wall at the open end of the sleeve and resilient spring means associated with the flaps and urging the flaps towards each other.

2. An umbrella sheath as defined in claim 1 wherein the flaps are joined at their edges by narrow side walls including a gussetted fold, and a spring clip is associated with the gussetted fold to provide the necessary resilient spring action to urge the flaps towards each other.

3. An umbrella sheath as defined in claim 2 wherein a reinforcing plate is provided within the gussetted fold in association with the spring clip.

4. An umbrella sheath as defined in claim 1 wherein a reinforcing wall is provided wherein side walls connect the edges of the flaps and define a gussetted inward fold longitudinally of the side walls and an overlying reinforcing wall including resilient legs adhered to the side walls on either side of the gussetted fold and provide the resilient spring action urging the flaps towards each other.

5. An umbrella sheath as defined in claim 1 wherein slitted side walls are provided at each edge of the flaps and resilient expandable material is provided in the plane of the side walls and connected to the edges of the side walls to provide the resilient spring action urging the flaps towards each other. 

